State Congress president Arjun Modhwadia on Thursday accused the state BJP government of protecting self-styled godman Asaram Bapu,who is facing charges of sexual assault on some of the women at his ashrams.

In a statement issued on Thursday,he said that it was not for the first time that the godman had found support from Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In 2008,the people of Ahmedabad had hit the streets demanding action against Asaram and his men in connection with the mysterious death of two minor boys  Dipesh and Abhishek  studying in his Motera-based Gururkul,

Asaram bhakt Chief Minister Narendra Modi set up D K Trivedi Commission to deny justice in the case. The findings of the report,according to Modhwadia,say that the boys had died due to drowning in the Sabarmati river. But the people believe that they were killed to perform certain tantrik rituals as their bodies were badly mutilated with some of the organs missing from their bodies.

Modhwadia demanded registration of an FIR against Asaram and his men,running the Motera Gurukul,and their arrest in connection with the death of Dipesh and Abhishek.

Sai aides remand extended by one day

SURAT: Narayan Sais close aide and disciple Dharmesh Parihar of Delhi,was remanded in police custody for one more day. Surat police had arrested Parihar from Delhi on October 20 for his alleged involvement in providing shelter to Narayan Sai in Delhi after being charged with rape. The court had,after going through the remand grounds,granted remand of four days. Parihars remand ended on Wednesday,and he was again produced before Court by police with a remand application for seven more days. In the application,police mentioned that they had come across two men  Deepak and Sashi  who are very close to Sai and are playing an important role in sheltering Sai. It told the court that these men were in Delhi and they needed Parihars help in catching them. The court finally granted remand of one day,ie upto Friday evening. Besides,police had filed application before the additional sessions judge to get a copy of statements given by the rape victim to the judicial magistrate under CrPC 164,to help them in the investigation. The court on Thursday passed an order in favour of the police in this regard as well.

Asaram moves court for regular bail

Ahmedabad: Asaram has moved a Gujarat court for bail on grounds of delay in filing of FIR in connection with the sexual assault case lodged by two Surat-based sisters against him and son Narayan Sai.

We have moved the sessions court in Gandhinagar for regular bail, Asarams counsel B M Gupta said. Gupta further said the complaint against Asaram was concocted and the allegations levelled against him are false. Asaram was brought to the city last week on a transit remand from Jodhpur. Thereafter,the 72-year-old was quizzed extensively by Ahmedabad Police during the seven-day remand granted by a Magisterial Court in Gandhinagar. He was taken back to Jodhpur on Wednesday.

An SIT of Ahmedabad police is probing the sexual assault case filed against Asaram. PTI